An interesting post ex-l. Reading it, I feel that you still don't "get" me. I do not recognise the person you are asking the questions of.
Firstly, the Levy paper - very interesting, worth everyone's time to read it, for sure. But your excerpt is about winning a court case, vetting a jury to get the outcome required. And applying it to me is a little illogical.
Again? I have only tried to be realistic and fair, not "defending" them. If they disappeared off the earth tomorrow, no one would be happier than me. To view or describe things as they are (from my experience or perspective), is not to defend it. It is to understand it. "Warts and all" means not just the warts.
Yes, there was a period of anger and resentment. I worked past it - I could take a more aggressive role against the BKs here if it was neglected by others (no worries there), and I could post only pro-BK stuff if it was helpful in any way (cannot think of how it would be). No, let's just try, from the different facets we all bring, to get a handle on the reality of it.
Hmm, interesting. Any large collective would eventually create "niches" and roles for different personality types. And, conversely, different personalities find their place easier in larger groups. I think the adjectives you use are readily applied to the young (men in particular) in almost any community. That's my point - that BKs are really no different (corruption, greed, politics, abuse all co-existing hand in hand with religious impulse, desire to serve and make a difference) - to any other society. It's the (lack of) checks and balances, review etc that is this forum's main work.
Firstly, the Levy paper - very interesting, worth everyone's time to read it, for sure. But your excerpt is about winning a court case, vetting a jury to get the outcome required. And applying it to me is a little illogical.
- • Young - I was once.
• Atheistic - definitely not when I was young but I was never a tradtional "theist" (even as BK, I used to say "there is no God but there is • Shiva") and if you wanted a label for me now that I am aged but not bowed, the best would be "pantheistic".
• Non-achieving - depends what you want to achieve. And any choice means sacrifice of other choices. I have written earlier in this thread (I think) specifically about that, and will restate that I probably overstayed my beneficial BK life by a factor of 2 - stayed twice as long as I should have. If you want me to list my achievements - well, I will if you will; want to match me in a reply? I do not presume to know anything about where you are at, other than what I have read here (and you are personally secretive). Things could have been different, and that is how it is for everyone.
ex-l wrote:Your position in defence of the BKWSU has drawn criticism on this forum
Again? I have only tried to be realistic and fair, not "defending" them. If they disappeared off the earth tomorrow, no one would be happier than me. To view or describe things as they are (from my experience or perspective), is not to defend it. It is to understand it. "Warts and all" means not just the warts.
Yes, there was a period of anger and resentment. I worked past it - I could take a more aggressive role against the BKs here if it was neglected by others (no worries there), and I could post only pro-BK stuff if it was helpful in any way (cannot think of how it would be). No, let's just try, from the different facets we all bring, to get a handle on the reality of it.
I am wondering if the BKWSU provide ... an environment which we were actually comfortable in ... being the obtuse, the malcontent or non-conformist, whilst at the same time feeding our other undisciplined interest in impractical "gee-whiz" cosmic matters
Hmm, interesting. Any large collective would eventually create "niches" and roles for different personality types. And, conversely, different personalities find their place easier in larger groups. I think the adjectives you use are readily applied to the young (men in particular) in almost any community. That's my point - that BKs are really no different (corruption, greed, politics, abuse all co-existing hand in hand with religious impulse, desire to serve and make a difference) - to any other society. It's the (lack of) checks and balances, review etc that is this forum's main work.